Friendship and togetherness was the theme for an event in Ilford Town Centre from 23d April - 28th April 2018. 'Stronger Together' were words written on
a banner during a week of community cohesion - one the likes of which Redbridge has never seen before.
The event was put on by the British Pakistani Christian Association and groups such as Ilford High Road Baptist Church, Albayan Welfare Cetre and Vishnu
Hindu Parishad collaborated to share conversations with local people on faith and diversity.
The event was the brainchild of Wilson Chowdhry who last year held a peace vigil after a series of terrorist attacks in the UK, threatened to create
...

The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar on Saturday announced that the Supreme Court will hear Asia Bibi's appeal against her blasphemy
case soon. He also gave an order for a restoration of full security provisions to Asia Bibi's counsel Advocate Said Ul-Malook
Justice Nisar directed the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IG), Capt. (R) Arif Nawaz Khan, to restore the provision of police security to
Saif Ul-Malook.
In his remarks, Justice Nisar explained that he personally knows Saif Ul-Malook and stated that he believes that his requests for additional
protective security protocol are legitima...

Despite brave efforts and 138Km of arduous travel for medical attention, Asma Yasoob succumbed to the injuries she incurred when a Muslim friend of the
family doused her with acid and set her on fire. Asma passed away on Sunday 22 April at approximately 10:00 pm in the evening.
Pretending to be her brother, Rizwan Gujjar called Asma to the gate of her workplace, a bridal saloon where she worked as a beautician and was helping
a bride and her family prepare for their special day. In the very moment she realized the man at the gate was not her brother, Rizwan Gujjar
poured flammable acid on her and set her on fire before running awa...

Three weeks have passed since the lynching of Christian man Sunil Saleem Masih by medical staff and security at Services Hospital in Silakot, but thus
far no action has been taken by authorities. A full account of the lynching can be read in the Pakistani daily newspaper Tribune (click here)
On 12th April 2018 Additional Session Court Judge, Mr. Yasser Nadim, was presiding over the trial of Sunil Saleem's murderers in Silakout High
court. He allowed an adjornment as the police investigation called for more time. Police officers told the court that their Forensic unit were
trying to obtain footage which doctors of Service Hospital ...

A 25 year old Christian woman in Sialkot, Pakistan who spurned the advances of a Muslim man named Rizwan Gujjar (30 yrs) was the target of a heinous acid
attack that has left her disfigured and fighting for her life.
Asma Yacoob has been employed as a beautician for the last two years and was making a good living due to her expert knowledge and fantastic styling
technique.
Her brother Nabeel Yaqoob (23 yrs) worked as a panaflex-maker (banner print-worker) and met Rizwan Gujjar there, over a period of time they became
very good friends and Rizwan would often visit Nabeel at his family home. It was during the visits to the Yaco...

After years of sexual harassment at the hands of an obsessed neighbour a young Christian woman Samina Iqbal is now has an opportunity to rebuild
her life by developing her business skills after being relocated to a safe house by BPCA. Her story was first reported by BPCA in October 2017.
Samina was left without hope when her stalker availed himself of police inaction and every opportunity that he could to ruin her young life and torment
her beleaguered family. Her tormentor had already stolen away her childhood and at every turn cut off opportunities for a better life. BPCA was able
to intervene by relocating her family and has been committed to...

Christians across Pakistan are facing up to a life of persecution rising to unprecedented levels after a church was set ablaze in Shadara on Sunday 15th
April 2018 at approximately 2:30pm. Perceptions of minority safety across the country have dipped dramatically after three terrorist attacks
in Quetta have resulted in dozens of deaths and even more severe injuries.
One of the attacks occurred on the same Sunday after 2 individuals were killed and 3 others wounded in a drive-by shooting involving masked men on
motorcycles (click here).
Parishioners of Gospel of Jesus Mission Pentecostal Church had finished their service successfully ...

Pakistani Christians again were left in a quandary by the 'European Union Special Envoy on Human Rights outside the EU' after having heir hopes raised
and then dashed by a resolution that linked continued favoured tariff-free trade status, to Asia Bibi's release and meeting the 27 UN human rights
conditions originally set prior to acceptance on the scheme.
BPCA is embarrassed that we believed this report that appeared on Special Envoy Jan Figel's official website (click here) and praised Europe for their efforts in tackling Pakistan's poor human rights record (click here),
which seem to be rather an engagement in real politick at the expense of ...

A Christian School girl of Pakistani origins gave up her Easter holidays to champion the rights of thousands of Pakistani Christian girls who are at risk
of rape, kidnap and forced Islamic marriage every year in Pakistan.
Hannah Chowdhry, who volunteers for the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) organised a meeting with UKIP MEP Nathan Gill to discuss concerns
about persecution of minorities in Pakistan, after the Welsh MEP and Welsh Assembly Member responded to a regular email correspondence sent out by
BPCA.
Mr Nathan Gill was moved by the plight of Pakistani Christians and created a small video which he shared on social medi...

Three terrorist on two motorbikes sped into Essa Nagri Road, Quetta, on Sunday 15th April at 6pm (2pm GMT), firing at will and killing people in the streets,
in an area heavily populated with Christians. Though no terrorist group has yet officially declared responsibility for the attack, evidence would suggest
that this recent violence was religiously motivated, as witnesses have report that the Islamist bikers chanted the jihadist slogan "Allah Ahukbar".
The attack is believed to have been premeditated and conducted in order to frighten Christians away from worshipping God by targeting them on Sunday
when many go to church. The victims themselves ...